Expression of adult plant resistance to stripe rust in selected Australian wheat genotypes

Wheat stripe rust can be managed using adult plant resistance (APR). Knowledge of the growth stage at onset of APR is crucial for integrated management of this disease. Wheat varieties Annuello, Baxter, EGA Kidman, GBA Sapphire, Janz, Kennedy, Livingston, Spitfire, Sunstate, Sunvale, Wyalkatchem, Yitpi, and Avocet NILs carrying Yr18 and Yr18+29, all carrying adult plant stripe rust resistance, were compared for expression of APR under greenhouse conditions. Weekly plantings of all genotypes and susceptible controls Mace and Morocco permitted simultaneous comparisons of infection at the seedling, tillering, jointing, flag leaf, and head emergence stages. Ten replicates of each genotype at the five different growth stages were inoculated with Pst pathotype 134 E16,A+,17+,27+. Percentages of leaf area affected by stripe rust and host response were recorded at 14, 17, 20, 24, 28 and 31 days post inoculation to establish the latent period. With one exception all genotypes including the controls showed latent periods of less than 14 days when inoculated at the seedling, tillering and stem elongation, or jointing growth stages; Spitfire had a latent period of more than 17 days when inoculated at jointing. At the flag leaf and head emergence stages, all genotypes except the controls Mace and Morocco had latent periods of greater than 20 days. The results indicate that the onset of APR in Spitfire was earlier (at jointing) than the other genotypes, and that the resistance remained effective until head emergence and beyond. The information generated shows the importance of information regarding stripe rust development within specific wheat genotypes, and in supporting decisions on chemical intervention to control this disease.